Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir. High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (166th highest in England, 289th highest in England & Wales) High Willhays is also known as an English Nuttall (228th highest in England, 397th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (49th highest in England, 727th highest in the UK). William Crossing stated that High Willhays was the highest point in England south of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales,[4] but since then surveys have shown that Kinder Scout is also higher (albeit less prominent). High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. Meldon Reservoir. Meldon Reservoir2.85km from High Willhays Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. The only remaining recourse available to the objecting amenity societies was an appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman that an injustice had been done. boulder field just before the large rock. RM 2BCCM52 - The spillway of Meldon Dam (1972), showing overflow of the West Olement River from Meldon Reservoir, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. Meldon Dam Railway stone. Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Really hope you're all ok!! It is part of South West England, bounded by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the north-east and Dorset to the east. Dartmoor is bleak, unforgiving, stunningly beautiful and at the same time a cruel vicious landscape. The water was bracing and though my family think I'm bonkers I found it most pleasant. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 16 min to complete. The sharpness of the fractured rocks, the twists and turns of every footstep, water running from every crevice. Tiny rapidly moving dots scoured the landscape in perfect harmony. Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society has seen 19 attacks in 2023 already Dog owners have been urged to keep their dogs under control on Dartmoor after a spate of attacks on sheep. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. Tracks across High Willhays to Yes Tor. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. He also posited a possible link to the word gwili meaning winding or tortuous, but said it was unlikely this was where it originated from. The reservoir is fed by West Okement River that continues north after the reservoir and runs through Okehampton, where it meets the East Okement River. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to: See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. It sits on the River Avon which rises just over four miles away NW close to Ryder's Hill. I stopped for a bite to eat, taking shelter out of the wind for a few moments. damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it. Can you swim in Meldon Reservoir? Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). High Willhays or, according to some authors, High Willes is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level, and the highest point in the United Kingdom south of the Brecon Beacons. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-7197786497211981"; It is also possible to access the River Teign and surrounding area. if (x.type === 'password') { Obviously if you do exceptionally come across anything High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (166th highest in England, 289th highest in England & Wales) High Willhays is also known as an English Nuttall (228th highest in England, 397th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (49th highest in England, 727th highest in the UK). reservoir covers some 57 acres. With the exception of the tors, much of this walk is man-made. initially until, as you get higher up (from SX 578902), a relatively clearer The largest outcrop is crowned with a cairn. We were all walking roughly the same route but no doubt with very different stories to tell over a cup of tea later. rock outcrops of the Tor proper. point This site was designed with the . It is worth mentioning here that this walk is in parts of the Okehampton firing range and it is worth checking the government website for firing times before you walk. 03:40. Unlike sunsets that donthold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. Please indicate where each photo was taken. From High Willhays we descended south to the West Okemont River and found our wild camping spot for the night nestled below Lints Tor. In my case it was the Hound of the Baskervilles. A shepherd on a quad bike was commanding three sheepdogs. Easiest route From Meldon Reservoir, SX 562918 Head for the right Sorry, but your browser does not appear to be accepting our cookies. . The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. to the water (SX 562913).Take the left fork. google_ad_width = 120; Commercial quarrying (originally for limestone) started at Meldon around 200 years ago. United Kingdom high willhays hike and camp Top recommended route Difficulty moderate. 13.6 km 4:05 h 410 m 410 m meldon reservoir carpark, up to high willhays, camp, down to the car park again in a loop. Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of high altitude oak woodland in Britain. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. In 1912, William Crossing, writer and documenter, said that the name High Willes had been thought to have derived from the word huel or wheal meaning mine, but he did not think that very likely as old mine workings were invariably located near to streams. Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. 40.00. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). Dropping down from the dizzy heights of High Willhays, a group of hikers could be spotted in the distance, making their own adventures, parallel to mine. Available for both RF and RM licensing. I finished the walk off with a peer through the fencing at the gently decaying rolling-stock of theDartmoor Railway, their fully restored rolling-stock carries tourists and enthusiasts at certain times of the year over 15 miles of track. The views from Yes Tor and along the ridge to High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow back to Meldon Reservoir is very pretty. <> Nearby Dartefacts and Squares: 438 Less than 1 km High Willhays Ridge Ring/Bank (with Pool) SE, 136, 0.075 km SE, 136, 0.075 km I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir" 03:40 h 12.1 km komoot Discover Route planner Features Discover In fact Black Mountain (703m) on the border between Herefordshire (England) and Powys (Wales) is considerably higher than both Crowden Head (Kinder Scout) (636m) and High Willhays (621m). The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. 400 m. 410 m. Intermediate Hiking Tour From Parking. There is a large cairn marking its summit. Was a bloody chilly morning (and night) on Prewley Moor but what a view! } The average height of the moor, however, is around 1,200ft (366m). Exit the car park and cross the lane to a signed bridleway heading southwest. His instincts, his breeding told him this was something he could do, he understood this view. High Willhays Meldon Viaduct Meldon Dam, Okehampton Devon There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. Very much part of the attraction for me; what the eye doesnt see, the mind starts to imagine.The plan was to walk from Meldon Reservoir in an easterly direction up to Yes Tor, a location for years I had always wanted to visit. Heheard them too. Walkers are welcomed when the range is not being used and to avoid 8. Large red words on the OS Map spell out a warning to hikers and tourists alike: Danger Area restricted access. . High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000ft. It was a long uphill slog and the ground was sodden but we weren't deterred. Undaunted, 16 ramblers gathered at the start point It was very wet underfoot and we saw many unprepared walkers struggling with inadequate footwear through bogs and over streams of water that wouldn't have been there during the warmer months. The waterfall trail is a moderate circular walk of about an hour on a mostly one-way route. They each have a certain attraction and charm, perhaps thats the engineer in me looking at things. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. A couple of Sunday's back we decided to take a trip up to Meldon Reservoir which is just outside of Okehampton. There are a number of compulsory checkpoints at which all runners MUST give their number to the stewards. If you need to buy any xY[kF~_![\53 )!7N&!s&ij43a kvF7VvyzU ~`c:fXHtA?z8GzL>: O_zj0 *C1Fucs{gb=L M:gvzl KGfgnD'!YHf9/vZ~QHp the mist comes down, orientation could become difficult. Yes Tor is 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. function myFunction() { Where is Meldon dam? reservoir car park. High Willhays We eventually left the moorland passing through a car park and then had to climb uphill again to an old railway line and the Meldon Viaduct, We crossed the bridge and then made our way back to the car tired and happy after a successful hill climb. Explore it on the map and plan your own route to High Willhays. //--> This descent was fairly steep, we were aiming for the Southerly most point of the trees, skirting the edge of the wood, meaning that a substantial amount of Bouldering was required. As I walked across the dam, water and machinery could be heard rumbling away deep beneaththe concrete superstructure. Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Black-A-Tor Copse and a dip in the West Okement. 3.4 km/h. Meldon Dam is now owned and operated by South West Water. You can follow hisblog here too. The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. s+-??|&xLj`wLpsQ!q~jJ&'y1}c89:g881i b50^y$8%!dTQ2$6{ Q% +*?q K.wmo$nR ( u(H:ZaRpS #[ ) ANA4SV,xJM2]FGVlP2#nD9mf@"Iv]>"0. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' [email address] (NB. MELDON RESERVOIR TO HIGH WILLHAYS VIA A ROUNDABOUT ROUTE START POINT: MELDON RES GRID REFERENCE: 562917 John Skinner had planned a route from Meldon Reservoir going upto the Moors via Okehampton Station but F&M restrictions put paid to that and he had to rejig the walk to avoid restricted areas. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Explore open moorland, dramatic tors and a Scheduled Monument: boasting a special combination of industrial heritage, wildlife and nature trails, Meldon is the perfect location to enjoy a unique day outdoors. There are intermittent . It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. on the track recorded automatically as I walked so should be accurate. Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. Find the perfect meldon reservoir stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. % . <> A|.6ba5WN,Ws=za?]nAk5aZU8aBRWG7J'juQ]:^uO2vQ{wprdKTz*q(Ebk QGrSsH:>#?O| WJ^)j`Y( Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, much of whose work survives. begin with, when I did the walk but I would not guarantee its presence long It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. Thanks to Malcolm Oakley of South Downs Walking. With the last of my lunch filling my bellyand a healthy dose of wellbeing filling my soul it was time to head back towards Meldon Reservoir via a path along the banks of the West Okement River. See Walking Time Calculator, For advice on .gpx files see There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. 1. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. The reservoir once a natural now flooded valley and the awesome (yes I will use that word) viaduct is very much man-made over nature. Surfing Lessons. When the track splits, take the left fork, Enough time to glance at the map and plot a compass bearing west towards Black Tor, overlooking West Okement River. term. There is also a wonderful stretch that is great for swimming in the summer, pictured left. The two peaks are around three miles south of Okehampton and 1.5 miles south east of Meldon Reservoir, so can be visited in tandem with Okehampton and Meldon. Obvious paths on the lower slopes make pleasant walking but these become intermittent on the higher slopes, the wild ponies being the most likely creators of many. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') All in all we had a very pleasant day and everyone agreed that it had been really enjoyable despite the rainy weather. It really was that easy. High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). There is a warning out for the land to the west of the reservoir as it is now private so I therefore enjoyed an up and down over Longstone Hill. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the Only two viaducts of this design remain in the UK and both are thankfully listed structures so hopefully we can enjoy them for many more years to come. The highest part of the moor lies in the northeast corner just south of the A30, where it rises to 2,037ft (621m) at High Willhays, seen from this walk. Meldon The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. All following each other, like sheep do. Meldon Reservoir is situated northwest of Yes Tor , and northwest of High Willhays . Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement, Find New Walking Friends & Walking Groups, Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking, load all 29 walk photos from Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir. Now dont imagine for one moment this would be an easy walk in thick mist, pouring rain, ice and hail. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Availability can also be checked at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The 15. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin.